Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia

Lord Steel of Aikwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What aid they are currently giving to Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia to overcome the current famine in the region.

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has committed £45 million for food distribution in the six countries in southern Africa covered by the World Food Programme regional appeal, including Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. This is additional to £5 million committed earlier in the year for food distribution in Malawi and £1.15 million for inputs for winter maize cultivation also in Malawi.

Palestinian Authority: EU Funds

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps have been taken to ensure that no European Union funds for the Palestinians go towards the publication of documents which glorify suicide bombings.

Baroness Amos: We have no reason to believe that European Union funds are being misused to publish documents that incite or glorify violence in the Palestinian territories or for anything other than their original purpose. The EC attaches strict conditionality to the budgetary assistance it provides to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The conditions mainly reinforce the need for transparency of the PA's public finances, strengthening the prudent management of the budget and encouraging progress on overall financial and administrative reform. We are satisfied that the EC, with the assistance of the IMF, is ensuring these conditions are met.

Tanzania

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make an announcement relating to the Secretary of State for International Development's recent visit to Tanzania.

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development visited Dodoma in 2–3 July for discussions with President Mkapa and Government Ministers about the UK's development partnership with Tanzania. She was warmly received and had some open and constructive discussions with the Government of Tanzania about their impressive progress on social and economic reform, as well as about the Government's response to the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) report on the air traffic control system. Given that the contract with BAE Systems is legally binding, President Mkapa is inviting ICAO and BAE Systems to visit Tanzania to help advise his Government on the best and most effective way of using the system. President Mkapa also made clear that there would be no second phase of the project. The President and Finance Minister outlined measures the Government has put in place to ensure proper scrutiny and transparency of contracts to avoid any similar problems in the future. Improved systems and legislation, which DfID has helped to support, are now in place for public expenditure management and procurement.
	In view of these assurances and the measures taken by the Government of Tanzania, and given the impressive achievements Tanzania has made in economic growth and social reform, my right honourable friend ageed to establish a six-year partnership based on mutual commitments to drive forward Tanzania's poverty reduction and economic reform efforts. The memorandum of understanding will provide a commitment to at least £45 millon per annum of support to the Tanzanian budget, the first year of which will be disbursed between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2003. In the current financial year we expect to spend a total of £80 million through our bilateral development programme.

Chagos Archipelago

Lord Gregson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the latest phase of the feasibility study into resettling the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago will be completed.

Baroness Amos: We have now received phase 2B of the consultants' report on whether it would be feasible for the Chagossians to return and live on the outer islands of the British Indian Ocean Territory (the Chagos Archipelago). Copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. We are also sending copies to the Government of Mauritius and the Chagossian's lawyers in the United Kingdom.
	While the report concludes that short-term habitation for limited numbers on a subsistence basis is possible, it also emphasises that any long-term resettlement would be precarious and costly.

Commission for Racial Equality

Baroness Thomas of Walliswood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the annual expenditure of the Commission for Racial Equality was spent on law enforcment over the five years for which records are available.

Lord Filkin: The proportion of annual expenditure that the Commission for Racial Equality spent on law enforcement over the last five years for which audited accounts are available was:
	1996–97: 8 per cent
	1997–98: 8 per cent
	1998–99: 8 per cent
	1999–00: 9 per cent
	2000–01: 10 per cent

Legal Services Ombudsman

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Legal Services Ombudsman intends to publish her annual report for 2001–02.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Legal Services Ombudsman has today published her 11th annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ministry of Defence Expenditure Plans

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to publish the 2002–03 to 2003–04 expenditure plans for the Ministry of Defence.

Lord Bach: The Government's expenditure plans 2002–03 to 2003–04 for the Ministry of Defence are published today. The document provides details of the Government's plans for defence expenditure for the two years 2002–03 to 2003–04. It complements the MoD's performance report 2000–01 (Cm 5290, November 2001) submitted to Parliament last year.
	The document is part of a series of departmental reports which, along with the main estimates and the document Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses 2002–03, present the Government's expenditure plans for 2002–04.

National Declaration of Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the Declaration of the European Council responding to the National Declaration of Ireland, made at Seville on 21-22 June, whether they consider that "the people of Ireland" referred to by the Government of the Republic of Ireland includes those who live in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No. The Declaration of the European Council responding to the National Declaration of Ireland, made at Seville on 21 and 22 June 2002, refers to those people of Ireland who will be eligible to vote in a referendum to decide whether Ireland should ratify the Treaty of Nice. Electoral eligibility in Ireland is a matter for the Government of Ireland. I understand that every citizen of Ireland ordinarily resident in that state who is at least 18 years of age and whose name is entered in the register of electors is entitled to vote at a referendum.

Cyprus

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) how many guests from Northern Cyprus to the Queen's Birthday Party at the High Commission in Nicosia were refused entry to the High Commission by the Gerek Cypriot authorities;
	(b) how many of those refused entry were British citizens;
	(c) what reason was given by the Greek Cypriots;
	(d) what representations were made by the High Commissioner to the Greek Cypriot authorities; and
	(e) whether they consider that such decisions are conducive to a possible future agreement in the island of Cyprus.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Two hundred and fifty-four Turkish Cypriots and 98 British people living in the north of Cyprus were invited to attend this year's Queen's Birthday party. Three British citizens, who were alleged to have broken Republic of Cyrpus law, were denied permission to cross by the Government of Cyprus. For the fifth year running all of the Turkish Cypriots invited to the party were denied permission to cross by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
	The British High Commission in Cyprus regularly makes representations to both sides in Cyprus to encourage flexibility during this important stage in the settlement talks. We also believe that contacts between the two communities will contribute greatly towards the current efforts for a settlement in Cyprus and regularly make representations to that effect. We regret that on this occasion Cypriots were again prevented from meeting each other.

Regional and Minority Languages

Lord Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will submit the first report on implementation of the Council of Europe Charter for regional or minority languages, which the UK ratified last year.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are pleased to announce that the report was submitted to the Council of Europe on 1 July. The report details the measures taken by the Government and the devolved administrations to fulfil the UK's obligations under the Charter for Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster-Scots. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

Pensions: Emigrants Returning from Canada

Lord Higgins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether an individual who has emigrated to Canada and has not had his national insurance pension uprated receives the full uprating if he returns to the United Kingdom; and whether he continues to receive the uprating if he later decides to emigrate again.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Following a pensioner's return to the United Kingdom from Canada, whether on a temporary or pemanent basis, his state retirement pension is payable at the unfrozen rate for the duration of his stay—that is, at the rate that is payable had he resided in the United Kingdom since retirement,
	Whether he keeps the uprated pension if he later decides to emigrate again will depend on whether his stay in the United Kingdom is treated as permanent or temporary and also where he emigrates to.
	The pensioner will take with him the amount payable at the date of departure either if (i) the stay is treated as permanent or (ii) it is treated as temporary but he emigrates to a country with which the United Kingdom has a reciprocal agreement which allows for upratings, or which is a member of the European economic area.
	If his stay was only temporary and he emigrates to a country with which the United Kingdom does not have a reciprocal agreement which allows for upratings or which is not a member of the European economic area then the pension rate would revert to the rate which was in payment prior to him coming to this country.

Sterile Seed Technology

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the so-called "terminator" development in genetically modified seeds has been discontinued worldwide; and whether it will not be recommended for use in the foreseeable future; and
	When they will answer the Question for Written Answer on terminator seeds tabled by Baroness Byford on 27 March.

Lord Whitty: Development of sterile seed technology (known colloquially as terminator technology) is continuing in the USA. It is highly unlikely that any applications to release such genetically modified plants in Europe will be submitted within the next few years. The UK would take a very cautious position should such an application involving this technology ever be submitted, in line with our strict, case-by-case, precautionary approach.

Apprenticeships

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they have taken to make available more apprenticeships within the United Kingdom's manufacturing base.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Government are firmly committed to their Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme across all sectors, including manufacturing in England. We have demonstrated that by first commissioning and then, jointly with the Learning and Skills Council, accepting the recommendations of the Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee chaired by Sir John Cassels, which reported last September. In doing so we will be able to both raise quality and expand the number of opportunities available.
	In particular, we have agreed a target of having over a quarter of 16-21 year olds following the MA route by 2004. In addition, that year we will fulfil our manifesto commitment to an entitlement to an MA place for 16-17 year olds with certain minimum qualifications. To ensure that we have sufficient places available to meet the expected demand we have also announced a major three year marketing campaign aimed at young people, employers and others. The next phase of the campaign begins on 5 August. In order to fulfill our commitments both to expand MA and improve quality we have allocated an additional £180 million over the three financial years from 2001–04.
	The Learning and Skills Council in England determines the allocation of MA places for each sector based on local labour market needs. Manufacturing MAs continue to be one of the most popular options for young people. Indeed in terms of the numbers of young people pursuing them, the three largest Advanced Modern Apprenticeship programmes are in manufacturing.

Greater London: School Playing Fields

Lord Wedderburn of Charlton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which independent schools with charitable status situated in Greater London share, or have offered to share, playing fields or other sports facilities with on or more non-independent schools.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The information requested is not collected by DfES.

Sale of Illegal Meat

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to prosecute retailers for the selling of illegal meat such as "bushmeat".

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: It is for local authorities to investigate and make decisions about food safety prosecutions based on the facts/ evidence before them and in line with their enforcement policy.

Animal Feed Imports

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many tonnes of animal feed were (i) imported into the United Kingom; and (ii) found to be contaminated; and by what for each of the last five years.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Imports of animal feed for the years in question were as follows:
	
		
			 Year (000) Tonnes 
			 1997 4,053 
			 1998 3,915 
			 1999 4,517 
			 2000 4,358 
			 2001 4,543 
			 2002(1) 1,090 
		
	
	(1) January to March.
	Source: HM Customs and Excise.
	Data prepared by Accounts and Trade, Statistics Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	2001 and 2002 data are provisional and subject to amendment.
	We are advised by the Food Standards Agency that enforcement of animal feed controls is the responsibility of local authorities. It has not been a requirement previously for local authorities to provide information on all checks carried out. However, under a recent Food Standards Agency initiative to strengthen feed enforcement, local authorities are being funded to carry out additional checks, including checks for contaminants in imported material and to make returns to the agency. The results obtained will be published.
	We are also advised by the Pesticide Safety Directorate of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that it carries out testing of products, including imported feed, for pesticide residues. Pesticide residues found have been predominantly stored grain treatments. All residues were within permitted statutory maximum residue levels (MRLs). Presence of these residues would not be regarded as contamination. It is not possible to relate the samples collected to the proportion of imports, since the size of the consignment to which the test result relates is not recorded.

Medical Negligence Claims

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What comparative costings on medical negligence claims have been completed between the National Health Service Litigation Authority and other schemes offering dispute resolution for medical negligence.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has commissioned research from the University of Nottingham on the potential costs of alternative systems for compensating patients. In addition, we are awaiting a comparative costing report from Professor Posnett of York Health Consortium on a pilot resolution scheme for small value claims. We expect this to be available in the autumn.

Local Authorities; Comprehensive Performance Assessment Framework

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in view of the rationalisation of inspection of health agencies and the comprehensive performance assessment process for local authorities, there should be a similar rationalisation of those agencies inspecting local authority services.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The proposed new commission for social care inspection recently announced by the Secretary of State for Health will bring together the current inspection functions of the National Care Standards Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) under one organisation.
	Co-ordinated and proportionate inspection activity will be delivered through the comprehensive performance assessment framework being developed by the Audit Commission. SSI, and the other inspectorates in the Local Government Inspectorate Forum, provide data and ensure that the inspections are proportionate.

Local Authorities; Comprehensive Performance Assessment Framework

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Social Services Inspectorate has not played a part in the corporate assessment of local authorities currently taking place.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The social sevices star ratings, prepared by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), will be incorporated within the overall comprehensive performance assessment judgments. In support of the corporate assessments, SSI has provided information on all councils and contributed to the majority of round table discussions which have so far taken place and are taking part in the fieldwork on some inspections.

Cancer Research

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent on cancer research in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 showing how much was funded by the Government and how much was funded from other sources; and
	How much was spent on research in the United Kingdom into (a) breast cancer and (b) prostate cancer for each of the years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 showing how much was funded by the Government and how much was funded from other sources; and
	Whether they believe that the amounts spent on research into breast and prostate cancer are adequate; and
	What are their priorities for Government funded research into cancer for 2002–03 and subsequent years and how much money will be allocated for that purpose.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government's total expenditure on cancer research in 2000–01 is estimated to be £190 million. This figure includes expenditure by the Department of Health, its equivalents in the devolved administrations, the Medical Research Council, the other research councils and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The charities are thought to have invested about £180 million—or roughly the same amount—in that year. No estimates of total expenditure have been made for the previous or following years. The pharmaceutical industry is estimated to spend around £500 million a year on cancer research.
	But getting valid and accurate figures on cancer research is difficult. It is often impossible to distinguish between basic or biological research that is relevant to cancer from that relevant to other disease processes. It can also be difficult to differentiate between costs attributable to research and those attributable to services. And research on cancers in general will often contribute to both breast and prostate cancer advances.
	In the NHS Cancer Plan of September 2000, the Government confirmed their commitment to increasing their funding for cancer research. In 2000–01, the Department of Health spent £83.8 million. This includes £73.2 million on NHS support for projects funded by the research councils and charities. By 2003–04, the Department of Health is committed to investing an additional £20 million each year in the infrastructure for cancer research and an extra £4 million on prostate cancer research. These had been identified as priorities. The increase in investment in the infrastructure for cancer research is proceeding exactly according to plan. In 2001–02, the department invested an additional £5 million.
	In April 2001, the Government set up the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) in partnership with the charities and the pharmaceutical industry. The NCRI is providing strategic oversight of cancer research across the United Kingdom. This will help to ensure that the nation's total investment in cancer research is directed to best effect. The NCRI is developing a database of research funded by its members, and this will include expenditure.

Speech Therapists

Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the base year of 1999, how many additional speech therapists will be working in the National Health Service by 2004.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has not set a target for an increase in the number of speech and language therapists.
	Between 1999 and 2001 the number of speech and language therapists working in the National Health Service has increased by 510 (11 per cent) and the number of training places available for students has increased by over 110, or 24 per cent since 1999. Our workforce projections suggest that by 2004 there could be a further increase of 800. If achieved that will be an increase of 25 per cent over 1999.

Human Organs and Tissue

Lord Temple-Morris: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish their consultative report on the law on the removal, retention and use of human organs and tissue.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are pleased to announce that today, together with the Welsh Assembly Government, we have published a consultative report, Human Bodies, Human Choices, on the law in England and Wales relating to human organs and tissue. Copies have been placed in the Library. Responses have been requested by 14 October.
	We are doing this in response to one of the main recommendations made to the Government last year by the Chief Medical Officer of England, Sir Liam Donaldson, in The removal, retention and use of human organs and tissue from post-mortem examination.
	The knowledge that organs or tissue were removed from someone close to them has brought profound sorrow to many families. We understand their distress and are grateful to those families, and others, who have already offered their views on how things might be improved for the future.
	This is a complex area, and while a number of interim measures have been put in place, we need for the future an effective and coherent framework that not only commands widespread support but also has legal force.
	The report seeks views on all issues, including organ donation and transplantation, relating to the use of human organs and tissue from the living as well as following post mortem examination. We look forward to receiving views from a wide range of organisations and groups.

NHS and the Private Sector

Lord Temple-Morris: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish their response to the First Report of the Select Committee on Health on the role of the private sector in the National Health Service.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government's response to the First Report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health on the role of the private sector in the National Health Service, Cm 5567, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Lottery Fund Grant Aid

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many wetland areas have received Heritage Lottery grant aid in the five years ending 31 March 2002.

Baroness Blackstone: The Heritage Lottery Fund has given grant aid to 184 wetland sites in the five years ending 31 March 2002.

Lottery Fund Grant Aid

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many heathland areas have received Heritage Lottery grant aid in the five years ending 31 March 2002.

Baroness Blackstone: The Heritage Lottery Fund has funded 23 heathland projects. Some of these projects cover a number of different sites.

Lottery Fund Grant Aid

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many schemes the grant aided by the Heritage Lottery have failed in the last three years ending 31 March 2002.

Baroness Blackstone: The Heritage Lottery Fund has not written off any grant payments to failed projects in the last three years ending 31 March 2002.

Downing Street Notepaper

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the practice of the spouses of Prime Ministers using notepaper headed "From the Office of (spouse's name and professional designation), 10 Downing Street" first arose.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The notepaper has been in use since 1997 to reply to those people who write to the Prime Minister's spouse in Downing Street. I cannot answer on behalf of previous administrations.

Cabinet Meetings

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 17 June (WA 68), how, without publication of information on when Cabinet meets and the length of those meetings, they are able to demonstrate the existence of Cabinet government.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Successive administrations have regarded the ability of Ministers to meet and discuss policy issues in private to be essential for effective decision-making. The number and duration of meetings is no measure of the success of a government. Besides, Cabinet government consists of more than meetings of the Cabinet. In addition to Cabinet itself, there are 52 Cabinet Committees and many ad hoc meetings of Ministers, together with a large volume of correspondence, all of which contribute to the smooth and cohesive running of the Government.

Appellate Committee of the House of Lords

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 8 July (WA 65), whether he has conducted an appraisal of whether the resources available for the operation of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords are sufficient to meet the needs of the supreme judicial authority of the United Kingdom; if so, whether he will publish the results of the appraisal; and, if not, whether he will conduct such an appraisal and publish its results.

Lord Tordoff: There has been no such appraisal, and there are no plans to conduct one in future. The House authorities look sympathetically upon requests from the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary for additional accommodation, but, with the general shortage of suitable offices within the Palace of Westminster, it has not been possible to satisfy them in every case.

Convention on the Future of Europe: Standing Committee

Lord Brabazon of Tara: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	When the first meeting of the Standing Committee on the Convention on the Future of Europe will be held.

Lord Tordoff: As discussed in the House on 24 June, the Commons has appointed a Standing Committee to hear reports from and question the four United Kingdom parliamentary representatives on the Convention on the Future of Europe. All Members of the House of Lords are invited to attend and participate in the meetings of this committee. The first such meeting will be held on Tuesday 16 July at 7.30 p.m. in Committee Room 14 on the Committee Corridor. The meeting will be held in public. For further information, Members should contact the Clerk to the European Union Committee, Simon Burton, on extension 6083.